Suggestions for Framing Nailer?

[Richard Jones]

Looking for a decent air framing nailer, non-commercial use. Sold my Porter-Cable years ago when I got out of the game, don't know squat about the newer stuff.
TIA,

Rich

ETA Thank you mods, couldn't think of a good way to say it!!

[Rich Engelhardt]

I have two - Bostitch F28WW - a real beast - rated for shooting 3.5 inch nails into concrete and/or wood. The thing really scares me. At 75 psi, it will counter sink 3.5" nails in 2x4 studs. At 125 psi, it will blow a 3.5 inch nail clear through a 2x4 and send it across the room. (found that out the hard way).
I also have a 3 in 1 Harbor Freight 28* wire weld nailer. It takes the same nails as the Bostitch. I picked it up as a backup to the Bostitch. It works very well for a sub $100 gun.

The battery powered nailers have also come a long way. If anything ever happens to my air guns, I believe I'll take a close look at a Makita.

[Mike Kees]

Paslode. The only nailer I use,currently have three in the tool trailer. I will not live long enough to have to buy another one. Only caveat would be look around the area you live to see what brand of nails are available. here in southern Alberta Paslode are everywhere.I would not hesitate to buy one in a pawn shop either,the rebuid kits are like $12 and it is not rocket science to do this yourself. Mike.

[Dave Cav]

Go to a pawn shop, get an old green Hitachi.

[Wayne Lomman]

2nd for Paslode. My air operated one is still good after neay 20 years hard work. Cordless one is trouble free too. The air one was the only one that will drive nails into NSW hard woods. Cheers

[David Bassett]

I doubt my use even counts as non-commercial, but for what it's worth I got Freeman because it's what CostCo's package deal had and it's been trouble free. (The framing nailer in the package is bigger / heavier than I like to use, but probably a lot less "bang" than a construction guy would want.)

BTW- check on nails for your project. I bought the smallest packages of galvanized nails Home Depot had, in two sizes to repair a fence, and I bet I've got more invested in nails than the gun. As the gun becomes a smaller percentage of your cost, you might justify a higher end gun....

[Martin Siebert]

My first one was a Hitachi. It worked excellent and I would probably still be using it, if it hadn't evaporated. I don't know what else to call it...it sure disappeared. I now have a Paslode air and it too works excellent. I think you would be very happy with either one.

[Mike Hollingsworth]

Go to a pawn shop, get an old green Hitachi.

I second that

[Dan Hall]

Hmmmph. Senco. I've had mine since '05.

[Bill Dufour]

Do not get clipped head. I doubt if they meet code in your area.
Bill D.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Do not get clipped head. I doubt if they meet code in your area.
Bill D.My first were Bostich, clipped head, which no longer meets code. Bought a HF 6n1 to do a handicap ramp job. Went thru three boxes of nails, and never a miss fire. But it is HEAVY. Several times a year, Lowes runs the Hitachi for $149, sometimes as cheap as $129. That's what I have now. It weighs half of what the HF does, and is a lot smaller.

[Richard Jones]

Thanks for all the input, guys.

[Richard Jones]

Do not get clipped head. I doubt if they meet code in your area.
Bill D.

That continues to be a big debate.

[Roger Bull]

Go to a pawn shop, get an old green Hitachi.

These were definitely the best air nailers for framers. If you are not using it all day every day consider the Paslode gas guns. The early ones had issues but the newer ones with the lithium batteries run great and can drive multiple nails per second if needed.

I now use a Paslode and love not needing a compressor.

[Mike Kees]

My Paslodes all run clipped or full round head Paslode nails with no problems. We used to use clipped and then code went full round ,but lately clipped are back . Alberta building code is confused at the moment. Full round do hold better though.

[Bill Dufour]

I understand the clipped head is not code because all the seismic and wind load testing was done with full round head nails. Does it matter, probably not much, who knows? With clipped head the orientation might matter with round head there is no orientation. Roofing staples must be oriented correctly or they will fail inspection.
I think some flooring nails must also be oriented as well. No, I do not mean flooring staples. They call the nails cleats for a reason.
Bill D.

[Bill Dufour]

Of course all that testing and historical knowledge is based on old growth lumber with true inch plywood. The metric plywood is slightly thinner then code requires. But the inspectors okay it anyway. Code says 5/8 or more sheathing at such and such nailing schedule. But the 5/8 sold today is thinner then it used to be. Is it good enough or not. Time will tell. By then it will probably be thinner and the glues will also change over time. For a while I think flake board was banned since it losses so much strength if it ever gets wet. Now it seems to be back.
Bil lD

[Mike Wilkins]

Since I am not a pro framer, I got a Paslode nailer from the blue big box store. I am not in the shop right now, but it is the one that will fit between 16" OC framing. For me and non-pro use it really saves your bones when working solo on a framing project.